The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will propose to the next President an aggressive economic and governance reform roadmap summed up by the acronym “GIANT STEPS” in a bid to sustain the country’s economic momentum and create more jobs.

A few weeks before the deadline of filing income tax returns, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) released the top individual taxpayers for taxable year 2013, following the top corporate taxpayers for the same year. So, did everyone get the message of BIR?

President Aquino’s anticorruption drive is gaining traction, thanks to the Integrity Initiative launched two years ago by the business community to involve private companies in the campaign against corruption in the private sector.

When government corruption and inefficiency is high, the public is looking for an exception. A few public officials are seen to be doing their job with little fanfare in furtherance of their personal and political interests.

SINCE THE flagship program of the P-Noy government gained considerable traction with the removal of no less than a Supreme Court Chief Justice, there is renewed belief in the seriousness of combating corruption.

On invitation by the Asian Institute of Management, Hills Governance Center of the Philippines (AIM-Hills), ADFIAP participated in the conference on “SMEs as a Major Force in Promoting Integrity and Accountability in Business” held on July 26, 2012 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manila.

Manila, Philippines - The government is looking for a role for the private sector in coming up with standards for the assessment of the performance as well as grant of incentives to public institutions, officials said yesterday.

SMALL AND MEDIUM enterprises (SMEs) should equip themselves with comprehensive knowledge on rules for permit applications and other business transactions as a defense against corruption, speakers at an integrity forum yesterday said.

Government anti–corruption efforts will get a great boost from the launch of AIM’s Hills Program on Governance. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) fully supports this initiative by the private sector to promote business integrity and accountability among its employees since corruption is one concern that affects our competitiveness as a country.

The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development voiced on Thursday its support for the private sector's fight against corruption among businesses by extending assistance to the Hills Program’s conference called “Small and Medium Enterprises as a Major Force in Promoting Integrity and Accountability in Business” to be held next July at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

In line with its commitment to empower consumers and enable business through promoting an environment conducive to the growth of businesses, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) supports the initiative of the private sector to promote business integrity and accountability.

There can be “private-to-private” corruption. Where the negative transaction occurs between two private persons where one of power may pressure a lower ranking employee to the detriment of the company.

In a forum on Monday, Robert Klitgaard, a former faculty member of the World Economic Forum (WEF), said that aside from directly diminishing public funds, corruption also affects the economy by distorting incentives for business, increasing transaction costs and deterring investment and innovation.

Many have asked why the Aquino administration seems fixated on pinning down the Arroyos on corruption charges. They go as far as to opine that this takes away the government’s focus from the real problems of the country, diverting precious time and resources from more important affairs of the state.

Often easily cast in the role of bogeyman in tales of corruption, big business is considered by most to be a merciless mercenary willing to do anything just to make a buck – and if it involves big bucks, regardless of the consequences.

The Integrity Initiative, a pioneering anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by the private sector, took a major leap forward with the staging of the 1st Integrity Summit last Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.